A strong presence in the Armed Forces is nothing new for Hispanics. Historically, Hispanics have always played an important role in the military, although it hasn’t always been well known or recognized by the general public.
Recently, the necessity of encouraging increased Hispanic leadership in the Armed Forces, at the officer level, has become a priority. Education is one of the best ways to raise the currently low percentage of Hispanic officers in the United States Armed Forces.
Currently, the United States Armed Forces and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) have an agreement to work together to answer this need. HACU, an organization founded in 1986, represents approximately 450 colleges and universities in the United States, Puerto Rico and Latin America; institutions where Hispanics make up more than 25 percent of the total student body. This alliance will open doors and create new opportunities for Hispanics. This program provides information about scholarships for the ROTC program (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) and other educational opportunities that the military offers. This is a strategic alliance that could make a big difference for the United States, as Hispanics are one of the fastest growing populations and have the potential to contribute the next generation of capable officers.



This agreement to work together, formally referred to as the “Memorandum of Understanding” or MOU, serves to strengthen cooperative efforts in education and favor academic and opportunities for Hispanics that attend school districts and university institutions with a large Latino population, the so called “Hispanic Serving Institutions”. Also it’s important because it puts new opportunities for success within reach of Hispanic students at a university and professional level in the Armed Forces, with access to officer positions. In practice, this supposes encouraging Hispanic leadership in education and the military, two strategic areas of critical and essential social importance in this country.
In relation to the size and importance of the Hispanic population present in the United States, Hispanic representation in the Armed Forces continues to be comparatively low. Increasing this percentage and the quantity of Hispanic leaders in military life depends upon student’s increased participation in those educational programs currently available as well as those that will be put into effect, as part of the U.S. Armed Forces’ agreement with HACU. Among the program’s goals we encounter encouraging technical careers for students interested in serving in the armed forces, in addition to providing diverse opportunities and benefits, like facilitating the transition from high school to university for graduating Hispanic students. One of many useful initiatives put into effect through this collaboration is the “Tour of HACU Colleges”, that takes high school students to visit universities in order to get information about university admission procedure and the available financial aid opportunities.








The Armed Forces’ University ROTC program offers scholarly and educational and training options to students who want to develop a military career after completing their university studies. This program provides numerous benefits, for example, financial aid, for educational expenses and training in physical fitness, dexterity and the capabilities necessary for entering the Armed Forces as an officer, be it in active service, the reserves or the National Guard.
All students that participate in the MOU program will have the possibility of graduating with a university bachelor’s degree and entering the Armed Forces with the range of first or second lieutenant. This agreement between the U.S. Armed forces and HACU reaches far beyond the concrete opportunities for thousands of young people such as improved education and training, and solidly educates these Hispanic leaders not only for their time in the Armed Forces, but also encourages those qualities that will make these individuals strong and respectable leaders in civilian life, promising long-lasting benefits not only for these individuals, but for the U.S. Armed Forces and the United States, as a country.

Latino talent, currently in expansion, can enrich and contribute to the creation of a new and modern military leadership that is physically, academically and linguistically capable.
Military scholarships, distributed through the signed agreement with HACU, will provide up to 17,000 dollars in financial aid to those students that want to become officers, which is a great incentive that will not only increase the number of Hispanic officers but will also help to increase the number of college educated individuals in our community.
This alliance between education and the Armed Forces is beneficial for both parties and shouldn’t be looked upon with suspicion or distrust. In times like these, of great military campaigns and economic crisis, it’s necessary to train skilled officers and soldiers, and with the reduced budgets and cutting of programs, (like university visits for high school juniors and seniors), this agreement between HACU and the U.S. Armed Forces benefits all parties involved, especially the student. An especially important benefit being the encouragement of Hispanic leadership and presence in the Armed Forces, as well as the direct benefits to these young Hispanics of training, education and discipline that will serve them and their country throughout their lives.